Scandal-hit housing provider unveils new £168k pa chief executive

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), the scandal-hit provider following the death of two-year-old resident Awaab Ishak in December 2020, has appointed a new chief executive.

Awaab’s death was caused by prolonged exposure to mould at the family’s flat in the Freehold Estate, part of RBH’s portfolio.

RBH’s former chief executive, Gareth Swarbrick, was sacked following the tragedy in which RBH staff were slammed for their “wholly unacceptable” attitude towards refugees. Awwab’s family were asylum seekers from Sudan.

This morning (June 12) Amanda Newton was unveiled as RBH’s new £168k per year permanent chief executive.

She will take up her new role in the autumn and will lead as the organisation continues to deliver its recovery and improvement plan. She joins from Liverpool-based Livv Housing Group, where she is currently executive director for customer insight.

She said: “Having the opportunity to lead an organisation like RBH, that is anchored in its communities and has a real ambition to do great things for its tenants, is an honour and a privilege.

“I’m looking forward to moving forward the recovery plan – working alongside the board, the representative body and brilliant colleagues to rebuild an organisation that focuses on its tenants, the quality of its homes, and the value that it brings to the wider community.

“There are exciting times ahead and we’ll approach this together with an unwavering commitment to do the very best for the people of Rochdale who live in our homes today and in the future.”

RBH chair, Kevin Brady, said: “I am looking forward to working together to drive forward our recovery plan at pace and embed our new governance arrangements.
“Amanda brings a wealth of experience from across the public, private, and social housing sectors.

“Her experience in implementing large scale transformation programmes, aligned to an unrelenting customer focus, will be a formidable asset to RBH as we reshape our services around our tenants and the quality of our homes.

“Amanda is joining us at a challenging and exciting time for RBH and the board extends a warm Rochdale welcome.”